NATO support to assist with the refugee and migrant crisis

Statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on NATO support to assist with the refugee and migrant crisis

Statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on NATO support to assist with the refugee and migrant crisis

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg agreed the modalities of NATO’s support in responding to the refugee and migrant crisis.

Nato will participate in international efforts to cut the lines of illegal trafficking and illegal migration in the Aegean Sea. Nato’s Standing Maritime Group 2 arrived in the Aegean Sea for monitoring and surveillance activities. Nato ships will be providing information to the coastguards and other national authorities of Greece and Turkey. This will help them carry out their duties even more effectively to deal with the illegal trafficking networks.

The Secretary general stressed the “NATO’s task is not to turn back the boats but to provide critical information. To enable the Greek and Turkish coastguards, as well as Frontex, to do their job even more effectively”.

In fact the Nato added value is to facilitate closer cooperation and assist in greater exchange of information between Greece and Turkey, as both are NATO allied. The agreement also means working closer with the EU than ever before. So NATO has a unique role to play as a platform for cooperation.

Search and Rescue

The obligation to help people in distress at sea is a general, universal responsibility. It applies to all vessels. Regardless of whether they are part of a NATO or national mission. If Allied vessels encounter people in distress at sea, they have to live up to their national responsibility to assist.

“The refugee and migrant crisis is a humanitarian tragedy. This is a complex challenge. And it requires all of us to work together to find solutions” concluded Mr.Stoltenberg.